Apparatus for induction heating and bending of thermoplastic composite tubes and a method for using same

US10427351B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-10427351-B2
Application numberUS-201615047993-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateFeb 19, 2016
Priority dateFeb 19, 2016
Publication dateOct 1, 2019
Grant dateOct 1, 2019

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  1. Title

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  2. Abstract

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  3. Assignees and inventors

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  4. Key dates

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  5. First independent claim

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  6. CPC / IPC classifications

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  7. Citations and related patents

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Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

An apparatus for bending a composite tube that includes an induction coil. Induction coil includes multiple turns and the turn-to-turn spacing changes at least once along the length of the induction coil. There is a heating element positioned near the induction coil and the induction coil is configured to cause the heating element to increase in temperature.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for bending a composite tube, the apparatus comprising: an induction coil that includes multiple turns spaced apart by a turn-to-turn spacing and the turn-to-turn spacing changes at least once along a length of the induction coil; a mandrel that includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion is rigid and the second portion is flexible, wherein the second portion extends from an end of the first portion, and wherein the second portion extends outside of the induction coil; a heating element positioned near the induction coil; and wherein the induction coil is configured to cause the heating element to increase in temperature. 2. The apparatus for bending according to claim 1 , wherein the heating element is positioned at least partially within the induction coil. 3. The apparatus for bending according to claim 2 wherein the induction coil includes a first zone that includes multiple turns that are positioned at a first turn-to-turn spacing; a second zone that includes multiple turns that are positioned at a second turn-to-turn spacing; and wherein the first turn-to-turn spacing is different than second turn-to-turn spacing. 4. The apparatus for bending according to claim 3 , wherein the induction coil includes a third zone and the third zone includes multiple turns that are positioned at a third turn-to-turn spacing; and wherein the third to turn-to-turn spacing is different from the second turn-to-turn spacing. 5. The apparatus for bending according to claim 4 , wherein the first turn-to-turn spacing is smaller than second turn-to-turn spacing which is smaller than third turn-to-turn spacing. 6. The apparatus for bending according to claim 1 , further comprising a bending device. 7. The apparatus for bending according to claim 6 , wherein the heating element is the first portion of the mandrel. 8. The apparatus for bending according to claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the mandrel extends into the bending device. 9. The apparatus for bending according to claim 8 , wherein the bending device includes a die and a clamp. 10. The apparatus for bending according to claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a sleeve.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • Heating or cooling · CPC title

  • Coil arrangements · CPC title

  • Establishing desired heat distribution, e.g. to heat particular parts of workpieces · CPC title

  • B29C53/083Primary

    bending longitudinally, i.e. modifying the curvature of the tube axis · CPC title

  • Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08) · CPC title

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What does patent US10427351B2 cover?
An apparatus for bending a composite tube that includes an induction coil. Induction coil includes multiple turns and the turn-to-turn spacing changes at least once along the length of the induction coil. There is a heating element positioned near the induction coil and the induction coil is configured to cause the heating element to increase in temperature.
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Gen Electric
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification B29C53/083. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Oct 01 2019 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).